Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) vs Union Pacific (UNP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Union Pacific (UNP) has outperformed Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP) over the past year, gaining 18.5% versus a gain of 7.6%. Over five years, UNP leads with a +22.7% price change compared with +14.8% for CP. Union Pacific is the larger company by market cap ($164.92 billion vs $74.24 billion), about 2.2 times the size.
On valuation, Union Pacific trades at a lower forward P/E (19.5x vs 20.1x for Canadian Pacific Kansas City). Union Pacific offers the higher dividend yield (1.99% vs 1.13%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CP | UNP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $84.45 | $277.60 |
| Market cap | $74.24B | $164.92B |
| 1-day change | +0.98% | +1.06% |
| YTD return | +13.58% | +18.74% |
| 1-year return | +7.59% | +18.47% |
| 5-year return | +14.80% | +22.70% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.15 | 22.50 |
| Forward P/E | 20.07 | 19.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.11 | $12.34 |
| Dividend yield | 1.13% | 1.99% |
| Annual dividend | $0.952 | $5.52 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $24.51B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +1.07% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $7.14B |
| Operating margin | — | 40.17% |
| Net margin | — | 29.12% |
| 52-week high | $96.90 | $315.99 |
| 52-week low | $68.42 | $215.53 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.85% | -12.15% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.49% | +18.49% |
| Average volume | 2.40M | 2.68M |
| Shares outstanding | 879.08M | 594.08M |
| Employees | 19,687 | 28,716 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Railroads | Railroads |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Union Pacific is about 2.2 times larger than Canadian Pacific Kansas City by market value ($164.92B vs $74.24B).
- UNP has outperformed CP by 10.9 percentage points over the past year.
About Canadian Pacific Kansas City
CP stock →Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; merchandise freight consists of industrial and consumer products, such as forest products, energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals, consumer products, and automotive; and intermodal traffic comprising retail goods in overseas containers.
Industrials · Railroads · 19,687 employees
About Union Pacific
UNP stock →Union Pacific Corporation, through its subsidiary, Union Pacific Railroad Company, operates in the railroad business in the United States. It offers transportation services for grain and grain products, fertilizers, food and refrigerated products, and coal and renewables to grain processors, animal feeders, and ethanol and renewable biofuel producers; and construction products, industrial chemicals, plastics, forest products, specialized products, metals and ores, petroleum, liquid petroleum gases, soda ash, and sand, as well as finished automobiles, automotive parts, and merchandise in intermodal containers.
Industrials · Railroads · 28,716 employees
CP vs UNP FAQ
Which is bigger, Canadian Pacific Kansas City or Union Pacific?
Union Pacific (UNP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $164.92B compared with $74.24B for Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CP or UNP?
UNP returned +18.47% over the past 12 months, compared with +7.59% for CP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CP or UNP?
UNP has the lower trailing P/E at 22.5, versus 27.2 for CP. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Canadian Pacific Kansas City or Union Pacific?
Union Pacific has the higher yield at 1.99%, compared with 1.13% for Canadian Pacific Kansas City.
Are Canadian Pacific Kansas City and Union Pacific in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Railroads industry within the Industrials sector.